The former Benfica, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan midfielder was most recently the boss at Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian

And he is highly regarded by the club’s Chinese owners after his spell with Tianjin Quanjian ended last month by mutual consent.

The Portuguese coach could come into consideration if Sparky cannot turn around Saints’ poor run of results.

Their only Premier League win this season - a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace - came way back on September 1 against Crystal Palace, putting Hughes’ position in the spotlight and Southampton in the relegation zone.

Saints have resisted pulling the trigger but have been assessing their options should they lose faith in the former Wales, Manchester City and Stoke boss.

With just that solitary win at Crystal Palace on September 1, the Saints are in the relegation zone

Sousa’s glittering playing career saw him win the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund and titles with Juventus and Benfica.

As a boss he struggled with poor spells at Queens Park Rangers, Swansea and Leicester but won the Swiss title after leaving England and had a two-year spell at Fiorentina in Italy before heading for China.

He reached the AFC Champions League quarter-finals with Tianjin Quanjian but suffered the blow of losing Axel Witsel to Dortmund and striker Anthony Modeste refusing to play over his contract.

Southampton owner Gao Jisheng fired Hughes' allies and the club's recruitment duo of vice-president Les Reed and technical director Martin Hunter earlier in November and could sack another employee in the coming days.